The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of unity. When Jesus was waiting in the garden for the soldiers to arrest him, he prayed for his disciples, asking that “they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). 

God has always wanted to bless the relationships of his children. Those relationships impact our daily lives and our witness to others. Proverbs 16:7 and the prayer of Jesus reveal the important key to having strong relationships with others. Our first priority is to maintain our strong relationship with God.

When our highest aim is to please God, we will live in ways that cause even our enemies to be at peace with us. It’s important to remember that a proverb is a statement of general truth. In other words, when we live to please God, it will help our other relationships improve as well. We can’t claim the proverb as a promise. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life yet was persecuted by his enemies. Jesus told us that when we walked closely with him, we should expect to be persecuted by some as well.

The proverb teaches us what is usually true for our relationships. Jesus’ prayer in the garden teaches us how to pray when our relationships are under attack. In both cases, our relationship with God, being one with God through Christ, is the path we are to take because it is the path of blessing.

Living with wisdom is a path to God’s blessings. Our relationships with others are important to God, and he has given us wisdom in Scripture to know how best to keep those relationships strong. Who has crossed your mind as you read or listened to these words? Take those thoughts to God and ask that your thoughts would be one with his. When you have God’s thoughts, you have your path of wisdom for every relationship.